How Can a Care Home Group Get Better Control of Its Energy Costs?
Care home owner Simon Walker needs to keep control of care home energy costs across three properties, and is finding it harder and harder to do.
Simon runs an established residential care group in West Yorkshire with around 80 employees. Each care home needs heating, hot water, lighting, kitchens and laundry services every day, so energy is a significant and relatively predictable operating cost.
But Simon isn’t managing one energy supply. He has three homes, multiple meters and different energy contracts with different renewal dates.
Alongside staffing, food costs and the wider financial performance of the group, Simon and his finance team need to keep track of what each home is paying and when action needs to be taken.
The problem: three homes means three sets of energy decisions
Managing energy across one property is relatively straightforward. Across three care homes, the picture becomes much more fragmented.
One contract might be approaching renewal while another still has months left to run. Consumption differs between properties, and separate gas and electricity agreements mean several dates, bills and supplier relationships to keep track of.
Simon has a finance team to help with the administration, but they aren’t energy procurement specialists. They can see what each home is being charged, but getting a clear group-wide view of whether those contracts represent good value is more difficult.
That makes multi-site business energy management another ongoing job for a team already dealing with the financial pressures of running three care homes.
Care home energy use can’t be switched off
Simon also has less flexibility over consumption than many other business owners.
If energy costs rise, a care home can’t turn down the heating, reduce hot water or stop running laundry facilities. Residents still need warm rooms, hot water, meals, lighting and essential services throughout the day and night.
Simon needs to understand how the group is buying its energy, what each property is paying and whether there are opportunities to improve its contracts without affecting the day-to-day needs of residents.
Business Utility Hub bring the three homes into one clear picture
Business Utility Hub can help Simon and his finance team manage the group’s energy position across all three properties.
Rather than treating every care home as a completely separate job, we can build a clearer view of:
Contracts. We review the existing gas and electricity agreements across the group and identify what each home is currently paying.
Renewal dates. We can establish when contracts are in the right period to renew, so Simon knows which properties need attention and which can wait.
Energy use. We look at consumption across the different homes and how their requirements compare.
Market options. When a contract is approaching renewal, we will compare business energy rates across suitable UK suppliers.
Ongoing support. Simon has a dedicated account manager who understands the group, its properties and its contract dates.If there is an issue, he doesn’t have to get in a queue to speak with his supplier. He can call us, and his account handler will answer the call within three rings and take care of his issues from our end.
This gives Simon one point of contact for multi-site energy procurement rather than having to manage each supplier and contract separately.
What can other care home groups learn from Simon’s situation?
Care home operators should:
- Keep contract details and renewal dates in one place across every property.
- Compare energy consumption between care homes.
- Review energy contracts before renewal becomes urgent.
- Avoid treating every property as a completely separate procurement exercise.
- Get specialist support from BUH if your finance team is managing multiple contracts without dedicated energy expertise.
A clearer group-wide view will make energy costs easier to manage and future expenditure easier to plan.
Get a clearer view of your care home energy costs
Running several care homes already means managing multiple sites, teams and operating costs. Your energy contracts shouldn’t add unnecessary complexity.
Business Utility Hub monitors energy prices daily, compares suitable business gas and electricity contracts and provides dedicated support before, during and after the switch..
There’s no obligation to switch. If a new contract is right for your care home group, we’ll manage the switching process from start to finish.
Speak to a business energy specialist today
